London, July 18: Ben Stokes, the England all-rounder, on Monday (18 July) announced his decision to retire from ODI cricket. Stokes, 31, said the first ODI between England and South Africa in Durham on Tuesday would be his last in the format, adding that it was “an incredibly tough decision”.
After making his ODI debut against Ireland in 2011, Stokes has scored 2,919 runs, including three centuries, and taken 74 wickets in the format. The highlight remains his match-winning effort in the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, when his unbeaten 84* helped send the match to the Super Over, which England clinched.
Stokes was recently appointed as the captain of the England Men’s Test side after Joe Root stepped down, a call which played a massive role in his decision. Under his leadership, England completed a 3-0 clean sweep at home against New Zealand and then won the fifth rescheduled Test against India.
Stokes had also taken a break from international cricket in July last year to prioritize his mental well-being. He returned to international cricket during the 2021-22 Ashes in Australia. Stokes said in a statement: “I will play my last game for England in ODI cricket on Tuesday in Durham. I have decided to retire from this format. This has been an incredibly tough decision to make. I have loved every minute of playing with my mates for England. We have had an incredible journey on the way. (Courtesy: ICC)